In the event of a disaster, most people would not be prepared to survive for more than three days. If you are one of these people, there is no need to worry because we will teach you how to build a shelter in order to keep yourself safe from any storm or other natural disaster that may strike. Building your own survival shelter can also have many benefits, such as cost savings and increased comfort level after the initial stress has subsided.
In this video, Jeremy and his friend a long-term shelter with fireplace.
Survival skills all start in your head. First, you need to decide whether you will fight or give up. (If you decide to fight) then your first objective needs to be finding a shelter from nature. Your instinct that tells you to protect yourself from bugs, animals, and the weather is good but remember that it is also important to have a fire pit to help keep you warm and cook your food. It is very important to choose a place to build your shelter that is close to a water source and plenty of materials like rocks, trees, brush, and shrubs for cover.
·Always remember: BACK TO BASICS.
If you are in immediate danger of being attacked or in need of survival first aid, then it is recommended that you stay where you are until help arrives. However, if you have time available to search for shelter, then do so immediately; otherwise, your chances of survival decrease rapidly.
1. Three Rules for a Safe Shelter Fire
Once you have found a suitable location to build your shelter, consider whether the ground is flat enough for an easy escape in case of fire. Consider if there are any gaps or holes where smoke can vent out and be visible from miles away. Finally, pay attention to how fresh animal scat looks; this may indicate that animals frequenting the area will return later on, which could compromise security.
The safety of your camp should be the top priority for any survival situation. It is very important to incorporate a fire pit for building your shelter, but building a fire in a safe manner is imperative if you want to stay warm and cook your meals. Fires are also useful for deterring animals and keeping yourself warm.
The First Rule of Fire: Smoke Needs to Vent
It’s not just the smoke that can make a fire dangerous. Carbon monoxide and other chemicals may be present in your living area, depending on what you are burning! It’sIt’s important to reduce the risk.
Your flame should be in the open, where smoke can disperse freely and provide you warmth. However, if your space is covered up, then a chimney or an opening to release it through will need to exist- otherwise, there may not be enough air circulation for proper burning! Just make sure it doesn’t compromise the structure of your shelter.
The Second Rule of Fire: Keep it Contained
To keep your fire properly contained, you need to keep it away from anything that could catch fire, such as tents or sleeping bags. If the fire makes its way through your shelter, then this could cause major damage!
You also want to make sure that you have boundaries for your fire pit that stop the hot embers from spreading if your fire gets out of control. A simple rule of thumb is to make sure that you have a 2X2 gap around you and that wherever the embers land, they won’t cause a fire.
- Nonflammable material should be used to contain fire pits. If you’re unprepared and require a makeshift shelter, sand mound walls work well; however, for more varied environments, rock is preferable. Not only will rocks help contain your fire from going further than you intended, but they will also help radiate the heat.
- Never leave a fire unattended. If you’re leaving the camp, be sure to put out the fire before you go. It is easy for your fire to get out of control and accidentally burn down your entire shelter or forest!
- Look at the branches and leaves over your fire. Setting large fires in the woods can lead to more than just fires. If you’re not mindful of what’s above, your fire could spread and potentially burn surrounding trees. Also, make sure to not smoke out the nests of birds and who may attack in defense of its nest.
The Third Rule of Fire: Keep Your Fuel Dry
Outdoor fires can be unpredictable and spontaneous, but if you want to minimize the risk, it is important to keep your wood dry! Wet wood is a no-no because it doesn’t have the same burn quality per unit. When wet, wood is harder to light and takes a lot more time to get going. Not only that, but you also run the risk of burning up all your valuable pieces of wood without enough heat available for cooking or warmth! This rule may be a little harder to follow if the weather is bad.
